Game



y 1933. F. A. ZIMMER 1,907,412

GAME

Filed Aug. 25, 1930 JNVENTOR, 71" ader/c l A 2721/1/16]:

ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES- FREDERICK A. ZIMMER, OF WTOOIDSTON,KANSAS GAME,

* Application filed August 25, 1930. Serial No. 477,643.

This invention relates to game apparatus and particularly structurebuilt to support a ball which is driven in flight, it being theprincipal object of the invention to provide apparatus which will allowsubstantially free flight of the ball in a given direction, and toreturn the ball to the point of beginning.

This apparatus is particularly useful and adapted to assist inpracticing the game of golf and especially in allowingthe operator topractice driving without having to retrieve the ball through any meansother than the device contemplated by this invention.

I It is understood that the device made in accordance with thisinvention may be used in practicing baseball, football, hockey, golf,tennis, or similar games where balls are used and Where it is desired toreach a high degree of efficiency in causing the ball to travel at ahigh rate of speed.

Obviously, the game device is adapted more particularly for use inconnection with longdrive practice and the device is herein describedand illustrated in connection with the well known golf ball and anysuitable tee for supporting the same at the point of drive-off.

One of the primary objects of the instant invention is the provision ofa carrying apparatus for the ball which will not impede its flight afterbeing struck and which will compensate for the inaccuracies on the partof the driver.

An even further "object of the present invention is to provide a stopplate and signal for the device which may or may notbe used, but whichfills an important place in the invention due to the fact that a signalis transmitted to the operator when a substantially perfect drive of apredetermined distance has been made.

The many minor objects of the invention,

including structural details of the preferred form of the invention,will appear during the course of the detailed specification, refering tothe accompanying drawing, wherein but a single form of the invention isshown. In the drawing Figure 1 is a side view of the assembled apparatusshowing the ball being returned by gravity to the point of striking.

Fig. 2'is an enlarged vertical fragmentary section through thesupporting base of one of the standards, taken along line IIII of Fig.1'.

Fig. 3 is an even further enlarged fragmentary detail view of thesupported ball and its means of connection to the trolley-wheel takenalong line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the signal actuatingmembers and the striking plate.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of one of the standardsand the bracket used in bracing the striking plate, and

Fig. 6 is a view in smaller scale taken along line VIVI of Fig. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrow.

Like reference characters designate similar parts of the apparatusthroughout the several views and the numeral 8 indicates a cable whichmay be of any suitable material susceptible of being stretchedcomparatively taut through the assistance of a weight or the like 10which is connected to one end of the cable 8 after it has passed over asupporting bracket 12 which is adj-ustably secured to a suitable mast 14by the set screw 16. This mast 14 be set in a concrete foundation 18, asillustrated, and should be high in comparison with mast 20 whichsupports the opposite end of cable 8. It is preferred to have cable 8suspended from and to masts 14 and 20 in an inclined position so thatthe later described parts traveling along cable 8 may return to thepoint of striking by gravity. 7

A similar bracket 22 is adjustably carried by mast 20 and the lower mast20 should be formed to have a goose-neck 24 which allows clearance forthe club when striking the ball from the tee 26 positioned below cable 8and near the standard 20. A stop 28 is adjustably secured to cable 8 tolimit the return movement of the ball and is preferably positioned abovetee 26 for the reasons hereinafter set forth. To support a ball 30 in amanner which will allow substantially free flight, the invention"contemplates the use of a trolley-wheel 32 which is pivotally mountedwithin a yoke 34 and which rides along cable 8. This 'novelly'constructed yoke 34 has an enlarged ring portion 36 ard constructionhowever, is the most valuthrough which the cable may pass as the ball isin flight. This construction allows the ball to travel withoutengagement of any sort with the cable which would impede its travel.When the flight has been completed, it is, of course, desirable to havethe trolleywheel 32 return to engagement with cable 8 and to facilitateand insure this action a pair of guide members in the form of integrallugs 38 are provided as illustrated in Fig. 3. The means of connectingthe trolley wheel 32 and the ball 30 is further novelly constructedthrough the use of a swivel 40 which allows the ball to turn and a leash42 between which and the yoke 34 is interposed an elastic link 44. Thisassembly which is the means of connecting the ball 30 to the wheel 32 iscapable of allowing the ball to be struck and carried a maximum distancewithout interference. Manifestly, the assembly should be made as lightas possible so that the striking force may carry the same withoutdifficulty. When the ball 30 is returned to the point of beginning itrests upon tee 26 to again be re-struck.

Ball v3O is novelly constructed with a shaft 74 passing axiallytherethrough to which the swivel 40 is attached.

It is desirable in constructing an apparatus in accordance with thisinvention to provide a striking plate 46, which is hung from cable 8through the use of a fixture 48 having friction elements 50 therein asillustrated in Fig. 4. The brace 52 should be provided which is alsoattached to the cable 8 by a bearing 54 which, likewise, has a grippingmember 56 therein. These gripping members 50 and 56 respectively allowadjustment longitudinally along cable 8 without additional apparatus.When the ball 30 has been struck to be carried a predetermined distancethe striking plate 46 will preclude its winding around mast 14 and tomake the game even more novel and interesting a visible or audiblesignal may be included in the combination which is actuated by the wheel32 striking a bumper 58. A. spring 60 behind this bumper 58 will becompressed when the same is struck and the two electrical contacts 62brought together to close a circuit through wires 64 which lead to alight or hell 66 mounted upon the top of mast 14. A pin 68 may slidablyenter a bearing 70 formed in bracket 48 to guide the bumper 58 and thedistance from the tee 26 to the Just described signal operating membersmay able.

It is understood that the apparatus may be made up 'in many diflerentways so long as the salient features of the invention are retained inthe structure and it is desired to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims. y

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A game apparatus comprising a cable, a standard to support each endof said cable respectively, a ball supported for movement along saidcable, one of said standards having a goose-neck formed therein wherebythe ball may be struck from a position-directly beneath said cable tocause the same.

to travel therealong.

2. A game apparatus comprising-a cable, a trolley-wheel mounted formovement therealong, a ball supported by the trolley-.

wheel and means to connect said trolleywheel and ball including a yokehaving an enlarged ring portion adapted to receive the cable as the ballis in flight and a plurality of guide members formed by the yoke toguide th cable to the wheel engaging position when the ball has reachedthe end of its flight.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

FREDERICK A. ZIMMER.

be computed in a mannerwhich will allow v the operator to determine justwhat. sort of a drive he has made when the signal is actuated.

The standard 20 with its goose-neck 24 is pivotally supported in itsfoundation as at 72 to allow right or left hand strokes to be made. Theclearance feature-of this stand-

